A cloudburst hit the Tharali tehsil of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand late Friday night, causing widespread destruction. The incident occurred around 2 am, leaving one woman buried under debris and one man missing. Several houses, shops, and vehicles have been damaged as mud and debris swept through villages.
According to Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari, debris entered 30–40 houses in Tharali and a similar number in Chepdo village. “A person is missing in Chepdo village, while a girl was buried after debris fell on a house in Sagwara village,” he said. Tiwari warned that “a lot of damage” may be revealed once the clearing work begins.
The sudden overflow of the Tunri Gadera stream added to the destruction. Nearly two feet of debris entered the premises of the tehsil, including Chepado Bazar, Kotdweep Bazar, and nearby homes. Several vehicles were also buried under mud.
Rescue Efforts Face Roadblocks
The heavy rains and landslides have blocked roads leading to Tharali. This has hampered rescue and relief work. “The local administration has begun rescue and relief work. Labourers and JCBs have been deployed, and we have requested a helicopter from the state government to mobilise SDRF teams from Gauchar,” the District Magistrate said.
#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Due to a cloudburst in Tharali of Chamoli district, debris has entered houses, the market, and the SDM’s residence. District Magistrate and relief teams have left for the spot. Two people are reported missing: Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary Vinod… pic.twitter.com/V2aesFekFf
— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2025
Visuals from Saturday morning showed uprooted trees, damaged roads, and vehicles stuck in mud. Many houses have been left uninhabitable.
CM Dhami Monitoring Situation
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that he is closely monitoring the situation. “District administration, SDRF, and police teams are at the spot, carrying out relief ops,” he stated. The administration is working to clear blocked routes and ensure immediate support to affected families.
ALSO READ: Kishtwar Cloudburst: 60 Dead, 100 Injured as Rescue Ops Continue for Third Day
This is not the first such incident in recent weeks. Earlier, Uttarkashi witnessed a cloudburst that triggered flash floods and left over 100 people missing. A large part of Dharali village was swept away during that tragedy.
With monsoon rains still active, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several districts in Uttarakhand. The IMD has predicted heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning in areas including Dehradun, Chamoli, Tehri, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Nainital, and Almora.
In Pithoragarh, authorities have ordered schools to remain closed and warned residents about possible landslides. Sensitive locations like Kedarnath, Gangotri, Mussoorie, Joshimath, and Rishikesh have also been marked at risk.
Officials have asked people living in low-lying and landslide-prone areas to stay alert. Relief camps are being prepared for those displaced by the disaster. Authorities are prioritising the safety of villagers and continuing evacuation in high-risk zones.
ALSO READ: J&K’s Kathua Reels Under Cloudburst, Landslide; Rescue Ops in Full Swing
